Mine-car coupler



.Feb' 15 1927' H. GAGE MINE cm coUPLER P iled July 24.' 1925 2 sheets-sheet 1 INVENTOR ffm.

A'ITORNEY WITNESS:

' 1,617,628 Feb' 15 1927 c.' H. GAGE MINE CAR couPLEn v Filed July 24. 1925 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 6 INVEN-ron l ATTORNEY WITNESS:

Patented Feb. 15, 1927.

'Lemma FEQE.'

CHARLES H. GAGE, OF WASHINGTON, DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA, ASSGNOR, BY`DI'RECT l.AND MESNE ASSIGNIVIENTS, TO INN W. SEARLES, GF CHEVY CHASE, MARYLAND; WLLIAM A. FAI'SON, OF CHESTER, PENNSYLVANIA; AND -WILLIAIVI D. RITER, vOll ASI-IINGTON, DISTRICT OF COIIVJIBIA, TRUSTEES. i

MINE- CAR COUPLER.

Application Ied July 24, 1925. Serial No. 45,926.

This invention relates to a coupler for mine cars, the bodies of which dump sidewise, the general object of the invention being to provide means for connecting the coupler head with the draw bar so that the head will remain in a horizontal position during the dumping action of the body and thus not strain the coupling parts nor act to uncouple them.l

Another objectof the 'invention is to pro? vide a member which is pivoted to the head and which has a socket for receiving a ball on the draw' bar so that the member and the head are swiveled on the draw bar.

This invention also consists in certain other features of construction and in the combination and arrangement of the several parts, to be hereinafter fully described, illustrated in the accompanying drawings and specifically pointed out in the appended claims.

In describing my invention in detail, reference will be had to the accompanying drawings wherein like characters denote like or corresponding parts throughout the sev- Y eral views, and in which:-

Figure 1 is an end view of a mine car showing my improved coupler in use.

Figure 2 is a similar view but showing the body of the car in dumping position.

Figure 3 is a plan View with parts in section of the draw bar and coupler and portions of the supporting means for the draw bar. Figure 4 is a side view of the draw bar and coupler, with parts in section.

Figure 5 is a view of the parts forming the swivel connection.

In these views, 1 indicates the truck of a mine car and 2 the body thereof which is so connected with the trucks that it can rotate about a horizontal axis so that the body can be dumped sidewise, as shown` in Figure 2. The draw bar 3 is carried by a frame 4 which is arranged in a yoke frame 5 attached to each end of the car body at the bottom thereof. The draw bar 3 passes through the bushings 6, the front one of which is slidably supported in the frame and a spring 7 is placed between the bushings and acts to absorb the shocks of the two coupling heads coming together. Lateral movement of the coupling parts is rea socket 13 toreceive the ball 14 which is 7 connectedby the neck 15 at the. outer endv of the draw bar 3 so that the member 11 is swiveled to the Vdraw bar, thus permitting the coupler headV 9 to remain in horizontal position, under the action of the weight 16 which is attached to the under face of the head, while the body of the car is in' tilted position, as shown inrFigure 2. The member 11V is fastened to the ball by a pin 17 which passes through the holes 18 in ther member and under the neck of the ball. The

socket is formed with a rounded part to receive the ball and a straight part to receive the neck.

From the foregoing, it will be seen that IV have provided means for Venabling the coupling means to remain in a horizontall position during the dumpingaction of the body ofthe car so that there 1s no strain placed Y on the coupling parts nor is there danger of the lparts uncoupling during the dumping action. Furthermore, it is not necessary to uncouple the cars in order to enable the cars to dump. Figures 1 and 2 show that the draw bars are in `alignment with the pivotal points of the body withthe trucks.

It is thought from the foregoing description that the advantages and novel features of my invention will be readily apparent.

I desire it to be understood that T may make changes in the construction and in the combination and arrangement of the several parts, provided that such changes fall within the scope of the appended claims.

What I claim is Y 1. In a mine car, a draw bar land a coupling head, means for pivotally connecting the head with the bar sothat the head can rotate about a horizontal aXis and a weight depending from' the head for holding the same in a horizontal position when the draw bar turns with the dumping movement of the car body.

2. In a mine can; a member having a g je socket therein, aV bali en-the ,draw bar engagmg'the Socket s0/that the memberl can vrotate about a horizontal axis and means for',

pivoting thefcoupling head to the member` sc'thatjthe" headcan `rock about a vertical axis 3. In "a mine'cai, a draw bar having a spherical member, a pin pessiiig through the socket member under the neck at a peint lwhere the necijcjcins the spherical meniber and its neck, said socket member having rotary n'icvement'cn the spherical member and i's neck and ,a coupling headrpivcted tc the` socket member s0 that 'it canrock'abcut a vertcai'exis. i f n In testimony Whei'eo I aFX my si gnature.

CHARLES 1-1'1. GAGE. 

